Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? - SV650.org

northwind · 08-03-09, 05:36 PM

Or, who watches the Watchmen

I went and saw it last night, I love the comic so naturally kind of expected to hate the film, as these things usualyl work out, but I loved it...

It manages to be loyal to the comic without being just a film of the comic, if you see what I mean... that's a good way to make a rubbish film since what works for one never works for the other, but it pretty much nails it. I guess it could be very confusing if you don't know the background- the opening montage has to fill in far too much background and doesn't quite work- but it's just right apart from that. The feel of it is spot on.

I'm kind of stunned

Alan Moore's an idiot, there's never going to be a better adaptation of any comic than this, it's not just a comic-as-a-film like 300 and V for Vendetta. And the plot changes actually make more sense than the original, it's loyal but they weren't afraid to improve it where they could, so not slavish as some adaptations are. Some things just don't work in the cinema (let's hear it for the decision not to include the Inexplicable Pirate Crap)

Worst things I can say is that the soundtrack is intrusive and OTT, and that they amped up the fight scenes past the point of credibility- half the point is that the watchmen aren't superheroes at all, they're just "masked vigilantes" so how come they're punching through walls all of a sudden? The Batman films tend to nail this, you can be larger than life and absolutely hard as nails without ever being superhuman. Oh, and tooooooo muuuuuuuch slooooooow moooootion.

Oh, and Rorschach... If there was one thing that had to be right, it was him, and Jackie Earle Haley just nails it 100%. He even looks right. Perfect. No compromise, even in the face of armageddon.

Oh, but I'm slightly disappointed by one thing... Over the credits is a cover version of Desolation Row, and I sat in the cinema loving it, thinking "Fantastic, need to find out who did this cover, it's awesome... Must be some 70s band I've never heard of since everything else in the move is period". Nope, it's My Chemical Romance

08-03-09, 05:40 PM

THank god someone else has seen it and i can talk about it now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tell me about it. They really caputured it. So well done.

Binky · 08-03-09, 05:47 PM

I thought it was quite a mundane slow paced film. Just quite average really.

The only thing that stood out for me was the opening title scene based around the 60's.

08-03-09, 08:24 PM

I though the moive was freckin awesome

I really enjoyed it, was good fun. I haven't seen the book, but it it was good.

northwind · 08-03-09, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Binky

I thought it was quite a mundane slow paced film.

I think to be fair they've advertised it a bit too much as an action/superhero film, which it isn't at all, if I'd gone into it expecting that I'd probably have been disappointed.

Binky · 08-03-09, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by northwind

I think to be fair they've advertised it a bit too much as an action/superhero film, which it isn't at all, if I'd gone into it expecting that I'd probably have been disappointed.

I took a punt on it really. Was a lazy Friday afternoon and my mates were going. I'd seen posters for it and knew about the DC connection etcI hadn't seen any trailers though.

I wouldn't go and see it again or recomend it really, thats' all. I've seen worse films...

09-03-09, 08:52 AM

Can a mod lock this thread or better yet delete it!!!!!

I haven't seen the movie yet and don't want any more spoilers!

(Okay, I can recite the novel verse & chapter but that's not the point!!)

No spoilers, not reviews nothing! Pretty please...with cherries on top!

09-03-09, 09:01 AM

Alan Moore is not an idiot - wash your mouth out with something very nasty for saying that Mr Northy sir - he's just someone who is very percious about his work (OK, perhaps too precious) but then it has been royally shafted in the past. It must takje a hell of a lot for someone who is so passionate about what they write and create to be able to divorce it from another person's take and still remain objective.

That said - you were right about Rorsaharch, but I didn't fully appreciate it until his last scene - the emotion in those eyes was perfect.

So - I wonder how much my signed, leatherbound, extremely limited edition would be worth now?

Hmmm, get real - I'm being buried with that book!

09-03-09, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K

TOO MUCH STUFF!!!!!

Argh!!!!! Spoilers!!!!!!!!

Stop! Desist! Do not pass go!!!!!!!!

I know I should just ignore this thread - but it's like hunting for Christmas presents in the attic on the 23rd December, I can't help myself......!

09-03-09, 12:11 PM

As a fan of the comic, I really want to see this. I'll have to arrange something for next weekend methinks.

08-03-09, 05:36 PM	#1
northwind Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In the garage where I belong Posts: 17,083	Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Or, who watches the Watchmen I went and saw it last night, I love the comic so naturally kind of expected to hate the film, as these things usualyl work out, but I loved it... It manages to be loyal to the comic without being just a film of the comic, if you see what I mean... that's a good way to make a rubbish film since what works for one never works for the other, but it pretty much nails it. I guess it could be very confusing if you don't know the background- the opening montage has to fill in far too much background and doesn't quite work- but it's just right apart from that. The feel of it is spot on. I'm kind of stunned Alan Moore's an idiot, there's never going to be a better adaptation of any comic than this, it's not just a comic-as-a-film like 300 and V for Vendetta. And the plot changes actually make more sense than the original, it's loyal but they weren't afraid to improve it where they could, so not slavish as some adaptations are. Some things just don't work in the cinema (let's hear it for the decision not to include the Inexplicable Pirate Crap) Worst things I can say is that the soundtrack is intrusive and OTT, and that they amped up the fight scenes past the point of credibility- half the point is that the watchmen aren't superheroes at all, they're just "masked vigilantes" so how come they're punching through walls all of a sudden? The Batman films tend to nail this, you can be larger than life and absolutely hard as nails without ever being superhuman. Oh, and tooooooo muuuuuuuch slooooooow moooootion. Oh, and Rorschach... If there was one thing that had to be right, it was him, and Jackie Earle Haley just nails it 100%. He even looks right. Perfect. No compromise, even in the face of armageddon. Oh, but I'm slightly disappointed by one thing... Over the credits is a cover version of Desolation Row, and I sat in the cinema loving it, thinking "Fantastic, need to find out who did this cover, it's awesome... Must be some 70s band I've never heard of since everything else in the move is period". Nope, it's My Chemical Romance __________________ "We are the angry mob, we read the papers every day We like what we like, we hate what we hate But we're oh so easily swayed" Last edited by northwind; 08-03-09 at 05:40 PM.

08-03-09, 05:40 PM	#2
Rai86 Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? THank god someone else has seen it and i can talk about it now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tell me about it. They really caputured it. So well done.

08-03-09, 05:47 PM	#3
Binky Emily Howard rides an SV Mega Poster Join Date: May 2008 Location: Birmingham Posts: 2,681	Re: Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? I thought it was quite a mundane slow paced film. Just quite average really. The only thing that stood out for me was the opening title scene based around the 60's. __________________ Wowee Zowee

08-03-09, 08:24 PM	#4
metalmonkey Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? I though the moive was freckin awesome I really enjoyed it, was good fun. I haven't seen the book, but it it was good.

09-03-09, 08:52 AM	#7
Kinvig Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Can a mod lock this thread or better yet delete it!!!!! I haven't seen the movie yet and don't want any more spoilers! (Okay, I can recite the novel verse & chapter but that's not the point!!) No spoilers, not reviews nothing! Pretty please...with cherries on top!

09-03-09, 09:01 AM	#8
K Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Alan Moore is not an idiot - wash your mouth out with something very nasty for saying that Mr Northy sir - he's just someone who is very percious about his work (OK, perhaps too precious) but then it has been royally shafted in the past. It must takje a hell of a lot for someone who is so passionate about what they write and create to be able to divorce it from another person's take and still remain objective. That said - you were right about Rorsaharch, but I didn't fully appreciate it until his last scene - the emotion in those eyes was perfect. So - I wonder how much my signed, leatherbound, extremely limited edition would be worth now? Hmmm, get real - I'm being buried with that book!

09-03-09, 12:11 PM	#10
Ceri JC Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? As a fan of the comic, I really want to see this. I'll have to arrange something for next weekend methinks.